The Republican journal., 1887-04-21


them, the isolated nations gradually forgot
even the existence of the others. Their arts
and sciences, derived from a common source,
still continued to flourish. The civilization of
the Peruvians under the Incas is almost ideut-
ical with the civilization of the Egyptians
under the Ptolomies. They embalmed their
dead, built pyramids. temples, and military
roads in exactly the same manner. Their re-
ligion. mythology, and folklore were alike in
every particular. In all their habits, customs.
and manner of living the one people could
easily be mistaken for the other. Whence came
this similarity if not by common originl 1t
is certainly absurd to claim it as the result of
accidental coincidence. In their religion and
mythology this similarity holds good with all
the races of antiquity. The Garden of Eden
of the Christians, the Garden of the Hesperides
of the PhGncians, the Elysian Fields of the
Egyptians, the Olympus of the Grecians, the
Asgard of the Scandnavians, the Tieu Chau of
the Chinese and the AZtIan of the Aztecs and
Peruvians are all one and the same. They all
refer to some happier land where dwelt their
fathers, and whittier the shades of their friends
would depart. Inthcir gods and goddesses the
same similarity exists. The god Osiris of the
Egyptians, Jupiter of the GreciHlls, the god
Odin of the Baltic races, and the Vishnu of the
lIndoos are all identical in their attributes, aud
also identical it'll the principal gods of Thibet,
Tartary and the prehistoric races of Central
America. That this god of so many different
and widely separated races was an actual king
of Atlantis there can be little doubt. The acts
attributed to him in Mythology are merely
confused recollection of real historical events.
The magnificent civilization of Egypt was but
Il shadow of the splendid attainments of the
parent race. 1t was this island and this people
that Homer had in mind when he sang:
'Stcrn winter smiles on that auspicious cline,
The fields are tlorid with unfa,lcd prime,
Mould the round hail, or flake the fleecy snow;
But from the breezy deep the blessed inhale.
The fragrant murmurs of the western gale"
The pillows of the Atlantic now roll over the
favored land where all this magnificencc and
power were slowly developed from the rude
beginnings of barbarism. Atlantis was lut the
golden bridge over which streamed for count
less ages a long procession of kings, heroes,
and adventurers. The presence of these pco-
pie is too surely attested by the mighty ruins
along the Baltic. around the shores of the Med
iterranean, and upon the banks of the MiSsis-
sippi. 1t is. however, with this latter Atlan-
team colony that propose especially to tcal.
l have before stated that Ohio alone possesses
over ten thousand Of their mounds and tumuli.
These mounds are constructed entirely of eart.l,
and are of every shape and form that the sci.
ence of geometry could design. They differ
widely in dimensions; some being but Il few
feet high, while others tower to the enormous
hight of more than one hundred and thirty
feet. Some are erected on the submits of hills,
others are situated in the plains, while many of
the finest specimens are symmetrically arrang-
ed within enclosures. We can only conjecture
the uses to which they were put, but undoubt-
tions, temples, sacrifcial mounds, and burial
places. Many of them are made in the form of
animals, birds. reptiles, and insects. 1t is
doubtful if there exists single species of MANI
malta whose counterpart cannot be found
among these mounds. Men with every feature
to tip measure over two hundred feet, reptiles.
tortoi>cs, and lizards of colossal proportions
are here found in endless profllsion. In Adams
County there is one mound in the shape of Il
bird that seems about to take flight. Under
one of its half raised wings is little mound, OF
diameter. Is there not an aliegory in this. and
the flying bird is supposed to be bearing to the
spirit land the soul of the person in whose HON
or the mound was raised! Another mound in
the same County is the exact representation Of
an enormous serpent. 1t lies coilcd and twist
varying in height from eight to fifteen feet. Its
wide mouth is open. and in the capacious jaws
is an immense egg which the reptile is appar-
emily in the act of swallowing. We cannot sup
pose that all these gigantic works We're created
merely for amusement. There was IL fixed and
the mystery it is not impossible that there
would be revealed to our ;lstonished gaze the
history of these wonderful people and the SYM
bol> of their unknown religion. There are no
traditions on the subject. and the most skful
and persevering Investigations have totally
failed to discover any data upon which there
would be a chance to basca theory. There can
he no doubt that they existed in immense num-
berS. and the scientific eXactneSs of all their
monumental works show the controlling cncr-
~ of one central power and despotic govern
mcnt. The date of their disappearance is some
what difficult to tell. Trees have been found
growing upon the summit Of their mounds
which show an age of over seven hundred
wears. From the geological formation of river
beds near which their greatest forttcations
are found, it is easily demonstrated that many
of these works We're erected over two thousand
years ago. Probably Il thousand years have
rolled around since the last Mound Builder
turned his face towards some unknown land
Many of their finest mounds are an exact copy
of the Egyptian pyramids, only upon Il smaller
scale. They face the four cardinal points to
Il mathematical nicely. The great circular
mounds are an exact representation Of the re-
mains of the ancient Druids in England and
Germany, only upon a larger scale. 1t may be
said that their civilization could not have had d
common origin with those races because thcil
works are built of earth; while the Egyptian
Druid, and Peruvian remains are of the most
solid and enduring masonry. To this objection
point to the fact that no quarries exist in thi,
section of the country from whence they coult
have obtained stone. They were forced to ust
such materials rs their surroundings coult
command. Earth and wood were their only
resources. The wooden portions of their 81
yantic structures have long since dccaycd; tht
portions constructed of earth will remain Il.
enduring rs the ages. One of the finest mounds
l have visited in Ohio is situated near the vii
lage of Mamisburgh, ten miles from Dayton
and on the Mama canal and river which bears
that name. This town was settled by til,
Dutch. and even now that language is spokel
more frequently Oh its streets than is the Eng
lish tongue. This whole region abounds il
! ruined Notifications and circular tumui. Abou
one mile from the village is ''thc Great Mound
of Ohio. 1t is built on an elevated platform
which rises one hundred feet above the sur
rounding country. From the centre of this i'm
mensc platform rises the largest mound il
America. 1t is seventy-iive feet in height. an'
measures almost one thousand feet around it.
base. From its summit the city of Dayton cal
| easily be seen. When first discovered its side
and summit were covered with trees whose an
| nllal rings showed them to be several hundre,
years old. Strange AS it may seem this noun,